17 dead, and new asylum boat intercepted as Abbott rejects deal

25 Jun 2012, 6:03 am   -   Source: AAP
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An Australian naval ship delivers asylum seekers from the wreck site to safety at Christmas Island's detention centre (AAP)

An Australian naval ship delivers asylum seekers from the wreck site to safety at Christmas Island's detention centre (AAP)

Australian authorities have intercepted another boat carrying suspected asylum seekers southwest of Christmas Island.

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Australian authorities have intercepted another boat carrying suspected asylum seekers southwest of Christmas Island.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said HMAS Leeuwin stopped the vessel on Sunday. It was initially spotted by a Customs surveillance aircraft.

"Initial indications suggest there are 60 people on board," Mr Clare said in a statement.

"The passengers will now be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo initial security, health and identity checks."

News of the latest boat arrival came as authorities announced on Sunday afternoon all search and recovery operations had been wound up following Thursday's capsizing of an asylum seeker boat between Christmas Island and Indonesia.

A total of 17 bodies have been plucked from the ocean but there are fears as many as 90 people may have drowned.

It's thought there were about 200 people on board and only 110 were rescued. They are mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan. All are male.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Tony Abbott has dampened hopes held by some in the parliament that a bipartisan solution on asylum seekers could be reached.

''The first point I make is that what's needed here is not more bipartisanship, but effective policies,'' he said in Melbourne.

''What's needed here is not compromise for compromise sake, but policies that work.

''It is not the opposition's policies that have failed here, it's the government's policies that have failed here."

But foreign Minister Bob Carr said both major political parties should aim to reach a solution on border protection.

"I just hope this week we can reach out across the parliament and settle on something that is satisfactory to both sides, namely protection for our borders and orderly processing," Senator Carr told the ABC’s Insiders program.

Asylum Seekers , Malaysia Solution

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Your Comments

Centrelink Cleo?

Mona - from Australia, 11 months ago

Refugees are put in detention for years. A nice name of Jail. Abbott want them jailed in Nauru instead of Australia. Centrelink!! Such Ignorance, born of unfounded fear, fear created by the endless tirade of the Liberals appealing to the ignorant and the uneducated, just to get elected. Where is compassion? We Australians have invaded, made war, for over a decade, on Afghanistan. There ARE refugees from this war torn desperate country!

Economic refugees

Cleo - from Adelaide , 11 months ago

Australia seen as a place where boat people will get quick asylum and more money than theyve seen in years from centrelink. This is straight from the horses mouth! Australia needs re think it's refugee settlement programme, centerline payments, legal aid and free TAFE. Perhaps only six months unemployment benefits. Once refugees had to work for two years for the government. They learnt English, on the job, and how to work and not just to put their hand out and see it as their right.

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